Charolais breeders turned out an ‘outstanding’ entry of quality cattle at the inaugural Welsh National Rumenco Charolais Show staged at Oswestry Show, on Saturday 5 August. The event which very much proved to be ladies day was led by the two year old in calf heifer, Holtstead Velvet bred and exhibited by Freddie and June Andrews, of Holmfirth, West Yorkshire and led to victory by their daughter, Emma. Not only did Velvet claim the senior female, the supreme female and overall Charolais awards, but she went on to be placed reserve for the overall beef interbreed award on the field.

Female and overall supreme champion, Holtstead Velvet from the Andrews family.

“This first time show attracted an outstanding entry of Charolais cattle, one which matched that at the Royal Welsh, and a credit to the exhibitors who travelled from throughout Wales and beyond,” commented judge, John Davies, Llangedwyn, Oswestry. He was joined by co judge, Brian McAllister, of Kells, Ballymena who after their three hour stint among the 98 entries announced Velvet as the winner. “This is a heifer with everything, she has scale, demonstrates correctness and true breed character together with good locomotion. She is the type of Charolais for our future.”

Velvet was claiming her third major honour in as many weeks, initially the Great Yorkshire interbreed beef title followed by the Scottish and Northern National Charolais supreme championship. A Gretnahouse Noel daughter and out of the homebred Holtstead Pascal who goes back to Shamleys Hero and two Royal champions, Lakeland Sagesse and Livermore Royal, she is within the breed’s top 1% with a Beef Value of CH33.

One step behind Velvet in overall reserve championship place was the intermediate and reserve female winner, Furzeland Appear, an 18 month old maiden heifer bred and exhibited by Louise Mumby, Horton, Gower, Swansea. “Appear who was closing in on the overall champion had great scale for her age, she was very well fleshed and proportioned, and demonstrated a lot of character,” according to Brian McAllister. Appear who was by Meillard and out of a Gower bred cow, was no stranger to the ring, having claimed reserve supreme breed title at the Royal Welsh where both she and Louise were making their show ring debut.

The junior female title went to Gower Avallon, a yearling making her first trip out with the Tucker family, Horton, Gower, Swansea. Sired by PTI Prince and out of Gower Riviera, one of the best breeding females from their 25 cow herd, Avallon was one of four embryos shared between the Tucker children and is owned by 11 year old Charlotte.   
The male section was led by Bob Robert’s 14 month old youngster, Brynffanigl Arwr, a Derryharney Outstanding son and out of an Oldstone Egbert sired homebred dam from his 40 cow herd based at Ucha, Abergele. Arwr, who Mr Roberts claimed to be ‘one of the best ever’ in his 20 years of breeding pedigree Charolais, was in reserve junior slot at the Royal Welsh on his only other outing. On Saturday, he went even further; Arwr secured Oswestry Show’s male interbreed title and then went on to team up with his stable mate, Brynffanigl Award, a 16 month old Dingle Hofmeister son and together they secured the show’s champion interbreed pairs award.

The reserve male title went to Esgob Agent, the 18 month old reserve intermediate winner from Gareth Jones, Cwmtirmynach, Bala. Agent who was also making his showring debut was by the homebred Esgob Robin who goes back to Simpsons Gregg and Tattenhall Hubolt and sired the 8,000gns Carlisle champion, Esgob Union and the Royal Welsh female champion, Esgob Utopia.

Peter Howells, Llanwenog, Llanybydder secured the junior championship slot with Pedr Akeen, an 11 month old youngster who is full brother to his 31,000gns Perth champion Pedr Thumper. Another entry making his debut, Akeen was by the 18,000gns Derryharney Outstanding who has run between the 45 cows jointly owned by Peter and his father, John under the Gwenog prefix.

The commercial lines were led by Peaches and Cream, a March 2005 born Charolais cross by Cargriff Rolls Royce and bred by the Morgan brothers, Pencelli Court, Brecon. Exhibited by Richard Hassall and Rachael Wyllie, Lower Brailes, Banbury, she was collecting her third major award of the season having already secured the top Charolais cross at the Newark and Notts, and also the Three Counties.

Leading the senior section in the young handlers section was 15 year old Andrew Coppinger, Edstaston, Wem, while Ewan Rees, 10, of Llangurig, Llanidloes headed the junior section.